Orlando City vs. Minnesota United: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (7-11-3, 24 points) and Minnesota United (7-7-7, 28 points) at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, MN (8:30 p.m., Apple TV). It’s just the seventh meeting between the two sides (the sixth in MLS regular-season play) and the only one scheduled in 2026 for these teams from opposite conferences.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

The Lions are 1-3-1 against the Loons in regular-season matches and 2-3-1 in all competitions. Orlando City is 1-1-1 on the road against Minnesota.

The most recent clash between these teams took place in Orlando on March 9, 2024, in a back-and-forth affair that Minnesota won 3-2 at the death. Duncan McGuire gave the Lions the lead just 14 seconds after the opening kickoff, scoring what was then the fifth-fastest goal in MLS history. Teemu Pukki then scored a first-half brace on two of the worst goals Pedro Gallese allowed during his Orlando City career. McGuire added a late goal, but just as the teams appeared to be splitting the points, The Lions’ back line got shredded off a Minnesota goal kick and Bongokuhle Hlongwane scored the winner deep in stoppage time.

The Lions came from behind on the road the last time they visited Allianz Field on April 15, 2023, to claim their first win in the series in MLS play. Orlando City trailed 1-0 on a second-half goal by Hlowane, but Ivan Angulo equalized eight minutes later and McGuire scored a late winner to lift Orlando to a 2-1 victory.

Prior to the 2023 meeting between the two sides, the last time they played came in the MLS is Back Tournament semifinals back on Aug. 6, 2020, which the Lions won 3-1. Nani scored a first-half brace to put the Lions up 2-0 at the half. Despite Mason Toye pulling one back late, Benji Michel’s goal deep in stoppage time sealed Orlando’s first trip to a competition final since joining Major League Soccer. Unfortunately, the Lions fell 2-1 to Portland in that final.

That tournament semifinal win was Orlando’s second consecutive result against Minnesota United. The Lions’ last trip to St. Paul prior to the pandemic yielded a 1-1 draw on Aug. 17, 2019. That game kind of felt like a loss, honestly. Orlando City struck first on a 70th-minute Nani penalty. The Lions had a second penalty awarded, but it was overturned by video review as Tesho Akindele was ruled offside in the buildup. Abu Danladi scored in the 92nd minute with the Lions just seconds from their first win in the series.

Minnesota won this fixture 1-0 in Minnesota in 2017 on a Christian Ramirez goal, then won in Orlando in 2018, 2-1. Ethan Finlay scored both Minnesota goals in the second meeting to offset Yoshimar Yotún’s penalty kick goal.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake a week ago, snapping a four-match winless skid in all competitions and a three-match winless streak in MLS play. The win pushed Orlando above the playoff line in a tight Eastern Conference race, but the Lions only played well in the second half against RSL, with Antoine Griezmann’s brace leading a comeback sparked by substitutes Justin Ellis, Tyrese Spicer, Joran Gerbet, and Daryl Dike. To get a result tonight on the road, where the Lions are just 2-7-1 on the season, Orlando must avoid conceding the first goal, which has been a problem. The Lions will also need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Minnesota enters tonight, having gone just 2-3-5 at home so far this season. However, the Loons have been good on the road, where the destroyed San Jose 5-1 a week ago in their most recent league game. Kelvin Yeboah scored twice against the Earthquakes and leads Minnesota United in goals with 10 on the year. Joaquin Pereyra leads the Loons in goal contributions (12) with three goals and nine assists. Anthony Markanich has added five goals.

Orlando City will be without Braian Ojeda (foot) and Bernardo Rhein (thigh), while Martin Ojeda (thigh) has been upgraded to questionable and Adrian Marin (thigh) remains questionable. Minnesota will be without Hlongane (knee) and Peter Stroud (lower extremity).

Match Content

• Our latest episode of The Mane Land PawedCast features our key match-ups and score predictions for tonight’s match.
• David Rohe wrote about his three keys to an Orlando City win over the Loons.

Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Zakaria Taifi, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta, Antoine Griezmann.

Forwards: Justin Ellis, Daryl Dike.

Bench: Javier Otero, Iago, Luis Otavio, Wilder Cartagena, Tyrese Spicer, Tiago, Harvey Sarajian, Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic.

Minnesota United FC (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Drake Callender

Defenders: Anthony Markanich, Morris Duggan, Michael Boxall, Jefferson Diaz.

Midfielders: Joaquin Pereyra, Wil Trapp, Owen Gene, Kyle Duncan.

Forwards: Marcus Caldeira, Kelvin Yeboah.

Bench: Alec Smir, Devin Padelford, Carlos Harvey, Nicolas Romero, Nectarios Triantis, Aziel Jackson, Tomas Chancalay, Mamadou Dieng, Mauricio Gonzalez.

Referees:

REF: Allen Chapman.
AR1: Kyle Atkins.
AR2: Kali Smith.
4TH: Sergii Boiko.
VAR: Ismir Pekmic.
AVAR: Joshua Patlak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Allianz Field — Saint Paul, MN.

TV/Streaming: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!